Dark Mafia Heir: Chapter 11

My heart throbs against my ribcage, but not with fear. It’s something darker, something I hate admitting even to myself.

The man standing in front of me—my enemy and my husband—makes my breath hitch. He looks absolutely dashing in his black suit and that fifties pompadour.

He’s watching me, his gaze never once leaving mine, like he owns me. And that’s the part that makes my blood boil. He thinks he does. The vows are said, but they feel hollow, nothing but a farce.

A lie we’re forced to tell in front of everyone here.

This is wrong. Every second of this day has been wrong. He kidnapped me, forced me into this dress, into this marriage. He stole my freedom, made me his prisoner.

But despite the hatred coiling in my stomach, I can’t ignore the way my body reacts when he’s near. The tension crackles in the air between us, and I despise it almost as much as I despise him.

The priest steps back, and it’s time. Time for the kiss in front of everyone that will mark me as his forever—unless he is dead, that is.

The room fades into a blur of faces, but all I see is him, standing so tall, so composed, like he’s already won. My fists curl at my sides, my nails biting into my palms.

How dare he?

He leans in, so close I can feel his breath on my lips. My heart stutters, and I curse myself for it. Then, in a voice only I can hear, he whispers, his words sliding over me like silk, yet sharp as a knife.

“You’re mine now, gattina,” he says, his warm breath glazing over my neck like the tempting whisper of in. “You’re mine forever. Let another man touch you, and you’ll realize how truly ruthless I can be.”

The possessiveness in his voice sends a shiver down my spine, and I hate that my body reacts to it.

His eyes are dark and unyielding as they lock onto mine, daring me to defy him.

For a split second, I consider it, but I know I won’t. I can’t. Because as much as I want to push him away, as much as I should hate every part of this, there’s a part of me that craves him.

The pull between us is so intense that it is driving me insane.

Before I can catch my breath, his lips crash against mine, firm and demanding. The kiss is fierce, controlling, and yet… my traitorous body responds.

I hate him, but God help me. I want him, too. His hand slides to the small of my back, pulling me closer, and I feel myself melting into the kiss, even as my mind screams at me to stop.

This is what he wants. For me to surrender. To give in to him completely.

And damn it, part of me already has. But I can’t let him see it. I’d rather die than give him the pleasure of knowing how much he’s gotten to me.

“Congratulations on getting married,” a voice says behind me.

We quickly pull away from each other, and I spin around to find a woman who looks to be around her early sixties.

Regardless of the wrinkles and her pale skin, she’s stunning. It’s honestly not hard to know she was a beauty when she was younger.

I chew my lips and glance at Antonio. I don’t know this woman, and I’m struggling to muster a reply.

“This is my foster mother, Mariana,” Antonio says. He cups the small of my back. “She and Dante raised me after my family was murdered when I was seventeen.

I blink at Antonio, completely stunned. “Your family was what?”

He smiles and ignores my question. “I’m glad you ladies have met.”

I get the hint that he doesn’t want to discuss his family with me. I mean, I wouldn’t share details about my family with him either.

Still, I feel my chest squeeze with pity for him. I understand grief well enough since I lost my mama when I was just seventeen.

I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for him. God, I can’t even begin to think of all the anger and pain burning inside him.

Staring at him, I notice the way his smile doesn’t meet his eyes and how soulless and cold his dark brown eyes are. I wonder if that experience helped to shape him into the cold person he is now. It must’ve played a part, that I know.

“And me? Why am I being excluded from this special meeting?” another woman asks as she joins us. She’s beautiful, with dark hair and blue eyes that sparkle under the sunlight.

“No one excluded you, Ginny,” Antonio says. He shifts his attention to me. “Ginny, this is my wife, Vivienne. Vivienne, Ginny, Dario’s wife.”

Ginny’s smile grows wider as she steps forward and hugs me. “It’s so nice to meet you, Vivienne. You’re so beautiful.”

I don’t know whether to hug her back or not, considering this is not a happy wedding, and I really do not want to get attached to anyone in Antonio’s life. I don’t want to be rude, though, so I don’t pull away. “You’re beautiful too.”

She pulls back, her smile dropping, and she pouts. “I’m so sorry about all of this. I know you didn’t want to end up in this situation.”

I glare at Antonio, who winks at me. I hate the way his eyes crinkle and the way my stomach flutters to it. “At least someone understands me.”

“Of course. I’ll always come around, so you won’t be too bored. I bet living with Antonio won’t be all that fun,” Ginny says.

I want to tell her that I would rather she sneak me out of here and back to my own home, but I don’t. I can’t trust anyone here, no matter how bright and genuine their smiles appear. “That would be nice.”

I mean it. If I’m in hell, I’ll rather have company than be all on my own and depressed. Plus, I can form a friendship with Ginny and use it to my advantage.

A sigh by the side catches my attention. Mariana is staring at me like I’m an alien who just fell to Earth from another planet. I guess she’s trying to decipher me. She wants to read my thoughts and intentions for agreeing to this marriage so easily.

Unfortunately for her, I plan to completely fool everyone from now onward. I’m in the land of wolves waiting to rip me apart, and wearing fangs is the only way I can survive.

Smiling to their faces and conniving against their backs until I am out of here is something I must do.

But that look on Mariana’s face tells me she’s already solved me like a piece of puzzle. I shudder at the thought that she can read me better than anyone could read an open book. The feeling is unsettling, and one thing is certain; I do not like being around her.

Clearing my throat, I say, “I’d like to excuse myself. I’m hungry and exhausted.”

Antonio nods. “Get Agatha to make you something to eat.”

I flash a fake smile at him. “Will do.” My grin grows wider as I turn to Ginny. “Please, make sure to visit. I’d love to know you better.”

She bops her head with so much happiness that I feel bad for lying to her. “Certainly.”

It’s been two hours since I officially became Mrs. Mancini, and I can’t stop staring at the huge rock on my finger with disbelief.

I took a shower after I came up, and Agatha brought me dinner. Antonio is still somewhere around the house, and I assume some of the guests have already left by now.

The room is quiet, save for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall, but all I can focus on is the ring. The diamond catches the dim light, scattering fragments of brilliance across the walls, like tiny stars dancing in the shadows. I twist it slowly around my finger, feeling its weight.

Although I never gave much thought to getting married, I never imagined this is how I’d end up wearing a wedding ring.

The diamond is flawless. It’s huge, too.

Any stranger looking at it would think it is a token of his love for me. But I know this is just a symbol of the power he now has over me. A reminder that I now belong to him.

My thumb brushes over the band, smooth and polished, and I can’t help but wonder if this is how my life will be from now on—beautiful on the surface, but hard and cold underneath. Trapped in something I never asked for but can’t escape.

I try to ignore the way my pulse quickens just thinking about him.

He’s not here, but I feel him. The ring is proof. A part of him wrapped around me, always reminding me of the vows we exchanged—if you can even call them vows. He said the words with such control, such certainty, while I could barely breathe.

And yet, there’s this pull. A strange, unshakable draw that keeps me captivated, even now. There’s this overwhelming urge to dive into Antonio’s world and see who he really is. A stupid hope that underneath his cold and cruel exterior, there’s a teenage boy who’s just angry at the world for the way he lost his family.

The ring sparkles again, and I hate that a part of me finds it beautiful. I hate that deep down, I don’t know if I’d take it off, even if I could.

But the feeling is brief as my thought drifts to Harper. She must be frantic right now, thinking of me and hoping I am safe wherever I am. I do not really care about my father, but my little sister needs me, and I can’t just be Antonio’s prisoner wife.

No, I need to find a way out of here.

I think for a moment. While I intend to put up a show for Antonio and his family, any attempt to just run away could put my life at risk. Gaining his trust and making him believe I really like it here is the only way out.

And to get that, I must… give him everything I have to offer. My virginity.

My heart rate picks up at the idea of giving my body to Antonio just to gain his trust, but my core throbs because I know that is not the only reason. As much as I want to deny it, I’m attracted to Antonio.

Every fiber of my being aches for him, and I would rather give it to him than that slimy old man my father wanted to sell me off to.

I hear voices downstairs—Antionio’s voice and someone else’s.

This is my chance.

I strip off the white robe Agatha brought for me to wear, and I’m only left in my panties. I can’t make Antonio see that I want him, but I can make him angry enough for him to want me, too,

Drawing a breath, I leave the room and start for the patio with my bare breasts exposed and my nipples hard from the thought of him touching them.

Luca is the first to see me, and he quickly looks away. Lorenzo does the same when he sees me.

Antonio has his back to me, but he catches on and quickly spins around.

There’s a flicker of rage and desire in his eyes when he sees me. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asks gruffly.

I wrap my fingers around my throat and pretend I’m doing nothing wrong. “Oh, I’m thirsty. Don’t mind me. I’ll go grab a glass of water in the kitchen.” I turn towards the kitchen.

“Stop right there!” Antonio orders, his voice thick with authority.

I stop walking, and a smug smile curls on my lips. I have him right where I want him, jealous and possessive.

His shoes clink against the marble floor as he stalks towards me. Shrugging off his suit jacket, he covers me with it.

I expect him to nag me, instead he throws me over his shoulders and marches up the stairs. I hit his back and kick against the air, pretending to fight him, but he doesn’t even bulge.

We reach the room, and he lets me down gently. His thick brows furrow, and his eyes narrow on me. “What was that about?”

My brow quirks. “What was what about?”

He towers over me as he inches closer, and I instinctively pace backward until I clash against the cold brick walls. “Don’t play games with me, gattina.”

“I am not playing games with you, Antonio. I was thirsty, and I⁠—”

“Thirsty for my cock?” He presses his body against mine, and I gasp when I feel his dick poking against my thigh.

He’s hard, and I can feel the wetness dripping between my legs. We’re both crazy for each other right now, hungry to kiss and fuck each other.

“You wish. I wanted water,” I lie, despite the ache between my legs and the racing of my heart. “I want…water.”

“So, you went downstairs and flaunted your breasts in front of my men because you’re thirsty?” he asks, his voice deep and husky, filled with more desire than my brain can handle.

I nod. “Yes. I—” I trail off when his fingers glide between my breasts.

He cups one of them and twists the hard nipple on it. A blend of pain and pleasure waltz through me, and my breath hitches. “Do I have to remind you that you’re mine now, gattina?”

I don’t answer, so he twists my nipple again. Fuck, I love the wicked intentions behind his punishment. I love how possessive he is, and that is the problem because I know I shouldn’t.

“Answer me, gattina,” he purrs, bringing his face dangerously close to my neck.

“I don’t…” Shit, I know the words he wants to hear, but I don’t say them. I need him to punish me and claim me. I want to push him to the edge and see how far he goes with his torment. “I am not yours.”

“Wrong answer.”

A moan escapes my throat when he leans in and bites my neck softly. I grab his shirt, pulling him closer, and inhaling his citrus and woodsy scent. I want to warm myself up with his heat, and God, I’m losing my mind from how much I need him to punish me.

He cups the back of my head and basically sucks the life out of me as he kisses my neck.

I’m moaning, holding his shirt tighter and pressing my bare breasts to his chest. The organ between my legs throbs with need. Every single nerve in my body tingles with a hunger only Antonio can satiate.

He kisses his way down to my chest and, taking one of my breasts in his mouth, he sucks the nipple while teasing the other with his hand.

“Antonio,” I moan as my head falls back and my eyes roll in. I’m cocooned with pleasure as liquid flames seep into my veins.

He parts my thighs and slides a finger between my legs. He groans, and a dark smile stalks his expression. “You’re wet, gattina. Let me take care of you.”

Before I can register what is happening, he drops to one knee in front of me and presses a firm finger to my clit. I shudder as the sweetest sensation rushes through me.

“Relax,” he whispers. “You’re going to like it.”

I’m panting with anticipation, grinding against his finger. That is how desperate I am for an outlet. There’s so much tension building inside me, and I’m afraid I’ll explode if I don’t find an outlet soon.

He positions his head between my legs, and that is when I feel the flicker of his tongue on me.

I let out a primal groan and clutch his hair. I want—need—more of that.

He does it again, licking me like I’m a sweet chocolate bar, and all I can do is rest back, relishing how good it feels as he sticks his tongue inside me and fucks me with it.